All posts tagged: Choummaly Sayasone

Did you get the memo? Blue is in this season. Aside from the great color coordination, the presidential couples of both US and Laos was all smiles this week as they met to celebrate US-Laos diplomatic relations. Historical relationship in a nutshell They’ve been friends a long time. Following Laos’ independence from France and its break from Indochina in 1954, the US established full diplomatic relations with Laos from 1955 until 1964, assisting Laos in its civil war during the Vietnam era. Then minimizing representation in Laos through the 70s. Full US-Lao diplomatic relations was restored in 1992. Then 2012 marked a visit to Laos by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; the first by a Secretary of State since 1955. Post-war and economic ties There hasn’t been much economic investment in Laos and the presence of US companies are still missing, with only the few such as Coca-Cola and Ford maintaining base there. The US embassy in Vientiane expanded its focus from searching missing American military members in Laos and UXO clearance to more complex public policy issues such …